The Directorate

When humans first colonized the Outer Reach, three massive trade conglomerates moved with them, establishing their assets in a far corner, away from Way Stations and other colonies. Although this made transportation far more expensive, it allowed for much greater privacy and a chance to spread their various departments over suitable nearby planets. Together, these three corporations, Hark Williams, Melcon, and Works Raptor, formed an enormous economic engine the purpose of which was to focus all of its money, influence, and efforts upon creating more impressive and expensive ways one sentient being could kill another.

Although they were far removed from other human colonies, this commercial enclave was still under the jurisdiction of Earth. As the oldest colonies began to feel the pressure of expanding populations and exhausting resources, taxes, tariffs, and government oversight in the Outer Reach were more and more burdensome. First the Satellite Charter and then the Terran Commonwealth interfered with the continuing business plans of the corporations. Eventually, the other colonies within the Reach rebelled. The resulting oppression was intolerable for business.

Attempting to police the restive populations of the Outer Reach, Terra found itself over-extended in every sense. The financial and physical burdens, not to mention damage to their reputation throughout the quadrant, were destroying the Commonwealth’s ability to lead humanity forward. Seeing their opportunity, the corporations approached the Commonwealth in secret with an offer they plainly could not refuse.

For vast, undisclosed sums of money and the promise of colossal technology transfers, the Commonwealth released the corporations and all their systems, now referred to as the Directorate, from any future obligation or allegiance to Terra. It was the hope of the Commonwealth diplomats that this would in turn buy them a solid ally and a reserve of good will within the Reach. Sadly, they were mistaken on both counts.

The Directorate began to design and construct security ships of its own, arming them with unique toxin-laden plasma batteries and carrying robotic and genetically-constructed assault troops for boarding and planetary assault. The existence of these forces was the most closely guarded secret within the Directorate.

During the on-going conflicts between Terra and the Reach the Directorate secretly sold military supplies, from ammunition to starships, to both sides. When the rebels won their freedom, declaring themselves the Dindrenzi Federation and claiming the entire Reach surrounding the Directorate systems, clandestine negotiations were begun to assure the Directorate’s continued sovereignty while removing Terra’s primary technology supplier. Seeing the clear financial advantage of an end to their tributary payments to the Commonwealth, the Directorate secretly agreed and began a campaign of delay and confusion with their technology transfers.

While the Terran war against the Dindrenzi dragged on the Directorate partner Works Raptor conducted years of covert raids against the Sorylians and Aquans, taking countless subjects for tests and genetic experimentation. With the Terran destruction of Dramos and the arrival of The Relthoza, the time had come to emerge from the shadows and the Directorate has been an open ally and partner ever since. With the formation of the Kurak Alliance the Directorate summoned its many allies to the planet Zenia, so secret it did not appear on any star chart. Here the powers of the Reach and their allies began plans to break Terran power in Fathoms Reach and force them back to the Hub.

In the assault the Directorate was assigned the duty of breaking through the borders of the Aquan Sebrutan and wreaking havoc within, thus pulling their attention and assets from Fathoms Reach and their Terran allies. Rest assured, however, wherever they travel, profit will follow.